European Product Association to launch at Discop Istanbul

LOS ANGELES, 23 December – Basic Lead today announced that the official launch of the EUROPEAN PRODUCT PLACEMENT ASSOCIATION (EPPA) will take place during the next DISCOP ISTANBUL, one of its two flagship regional events, set to take place from 4 to 6 March 2014.

Reflecting the TV industry’s ever-changing needs, the EPPA is set to play a key role in helping TV content producers, broadcasters and distribution platforms, as well as brands and creative services, navigate the fast-evolving world of advertiser-funded content.

Headquartered in Istanbul, the EPPA is established as a platform to strengthen global brands and facilitate financial sources for production companies. The first talks regarding the EPPA will be held during the 2nd International Product Placement Symposium, taking place in Istanbul from 17 to 18 January 2014, where the leading European agencies and parties forming the Association will lay out plans for the venture.

“With favorable legislations now in place in most European countries, the definition of product placement and branded content has considerably broadened over the last three years”, says M. Akif Ebiçlioğlu, co-founder of EPPA and CEO of 3P Product Placement Production , a leading Istanbul-based product placement agency, who adds, “In such an environment our role is, quite simply, to offer expert guidance and practical information designed to support brands, producers and programmers optimize their organic relationship.”

To highlight this initiative, the last day of DISCOP ISTANBUL (6 March) will focus on cutting-edge strategies and best practices in the development of branded TV content as brand marketers, creative and media buying agencies, content producers and programming executives engage in a day of panels and compelling case studies.

“As a multibillion dollar industry fueled by double digit growth, branded entertainment is one of the hottest topics in marketing communications, but also one of the least understood,” adds Benjamin MAFTOUL, DISCOP ISTANBUL’s conference program director, “and this is why we are bringing together the brightest and best minds in the branded entertainment world to provide our attendees with an A-Class crash course.”

Specifically aimed at producers, programmers and distributors driving TV and online content business across Central and West Asia, the Middle East, the Gulf region, and North Africa, the DISCOP ISTANBUL 2014 conference program will also feature a day centered on drama and format co-productions across the Middle East, and a day dedicated to helping broadcasters and Pay-TV operators explore innovative digital solutions.

1000+ delegates and more than 250 international exhibiting sellers will be taking part in DISCOP ISTANBUL including a major contingent of Turkish producers of drama series and formats, alongside national pavilions representing France, the UK, Malaysia, Korea and South-Africa.

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With offices in Los Angeles and Johannesburg, BASIC LEAD is an independent event production and marketing agency facilitating the production, the commerce and the promotion of film, TV and online content and adaptation rights across the world.

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Produced by Basic Lead and Globus Fair and Congress Management.This fair is organized under the Audit of TOBB (Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey) in accordance with the legislation N°5174.